2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2020 Honda Pilot

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the dynamic styling characteristic of the Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. The subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows masked the size of the Pilot, giving it a more svelte appearance. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog fuel and engine-temperature gauges with a digital screen for other information. The cabin felt comfortable and spacious, though it used hard plastics in many areas, making it less upscale compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

In contrast, the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered a more stylish and sporty look, with a steeply angled rear liftgate contributing to its SUV coupe appearance. The SEL Premium trim with the R-Line package looked particularly striking with its 21-inch machined-finish wheels and optional Pure Gray paint. Inside, the Atlas Cross Sport featured a two-tone Burgundy and Titan Black color scheme, though it also had hard plastics. The design and materials were well-executed, and the available ambient lighting added a nice touch.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, available with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX, EX, and EX-L trims used a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured a 9-speed automatic. The V6 provided strong acceleration, making it easy to move from a standstill or pass on the highway. The Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for various conditions, enhancing its versatility.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, generating 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. An optional 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, offering a more spirited driving experience. Both engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the Atlas Cross Sport was primarily front-wheel drive, with an optional 4Motion AWD system. The V6 engine provided adequate power and refinement, while the 8-speed transmission performed well, though it had delayed downshifts in normal mode. The Atlas Cross Sport featured Active Control with various traction settings, enhancing its capability in different driving conditions.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The third row was adult-friendly, and EX trims and higher provided one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot offered 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Pilot also featured numerous storage spaces for family gear, and higher trims included a power liftgate and hands-free power tailgate.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, though smaller than the Atlas, still offered a spacious interior. The front seats were large, heated, and ventilated, with numerous power adjustments. The second row comfortably accommodated three kids or two adults with ample legroom and headroom. The Atlas Cross Sport provided 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 77.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior featured plenty of useful storage spaces, though the dual-zone automatic climate control system struggled in direct sunlight.

The 2020 Honda Pilot's LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen with a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. Higher trims included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system lacked a tuning knob and had a confusing layout. Additional features on higher trims included HD Radio, SiriusXM, Cabin Control Remote Capability, navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system. The Elite and Black Edition trims also offered a wireless charging pad.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered three infotainment systems, with the top-trim test vehicle featuring an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen display, large virtual menu buttons, and two stereo knobs. The system supported two Bluetooth device pairings and included robust Car-Net connected services. The 12-speaker Fender premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. However, the Cross Sport lacked a natural voice recognition system, requiring the use of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for voice commands.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also featured front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety equipment included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and the best crash test score of Good from the IIHS.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, including an automatic post-collision braking system. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle featured additional ADAS, such as road-sign recognition and Traffic Jam Assist. The Lane Assist system prevented lane changes when another vehicle was in the blind spot, and the rear cross-traffic alert system included automatic emergency braking. Crash-test results for the Atlas Cross Sport were not available, but the larger Atlas performed well in crash tests.